Sunlight glints on the culms of timber bamboo.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
First Rain in Weeks
Today, we got our first rain in several weeks here in the Bay Area. Rainfall at this time last year was almost 4 times the amount of what it has been this winter. I hope rain comes soon, or else the garden may be history...
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Monday, January 22, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Palm Canyon Trail
The Palm Canyon section of Balboa Park. In this picture, I am standing in a grove of king palms (Archnotophoenix cunninghamiana).
Saturday, January 20, 2007
A Stark Contrast
A healthy king palm frond set against the background of a defoliated sycamore. I must say that palms are my favorite trees for winter!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Subarctic to Subtropical...
After a week of record-low temperatures here in California, we will begin to climb out of a cold pit into a peak of "subtropical" warmth. Temperatures are expected to rise about 14 degrees by next Tuesday, with low temps in the 40's! I wonder how my garden likes it: dead for a week, and then slowly eased out of the coffin. I can no longer tell whether we are experiencing global warming or global cooling.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
The Tropical Garden in 2007...
This year will hopefully bring some new additions to the garden. I am especially anxious to get my tropical garden started again, but the impending frost makes me question whether I will ever be able to grow tropical plants again.
Really though, the plants will make it, and I am hoping to add some great things this year, maybe some bougainvillea and hibiscus, and possibly one of those really cheap queen palms that grow so fast you might think they're taking steroids. And the Thailand Giant Strain of Colocasia elephant ears with leaves 5 feet wide might add an interesting look to the micro-jungle.
Throw in some squirrel monkeys and tiki torches, and it would be an "authentic" island getaway...in a backyard.
Oh, one more thing: This is the 100th post on this blog!
Really though, the plants will make it, and I am hoping to add some great things this year, maybe some bougainvillea and hibiscus, and possibly one of those really cheap queen palms that grow so fast you might think they're taking steroids. And the Thailand Giant Strain of Colocasia elephant ears with leaves 5 feet wide might add an interesting look to the micro-jungle.
Throw in some squirrel monkeys and tiki torches, and it would be an "authentic" island getaway...in a backyard.
Oh, one more thing: This is the 100th post on this blog!
Major Freeze Heading for California...
Temperatures are expected to drop by at least ten degrees over the next few days. Lows in the mid-20's are forecast for parts of the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area. Even San Diego and Los Angeles may experience freezing temperatures.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Bay Area Tropical
A stunning Heliconia schiedeana flower. This species is one of the cold-hardiest heliconias available.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Taste of Spring
Today the temperature got into the mid-60's and it was sunny all day. My tropical plants are on the side of the house in a super warm microclimate and hopefully they will start to recover from the frost. 2007 looks like it might be a good year for gardening.
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